As an experienced inventor, I must advise new inventors to proceed with prototype request carefully. You wan to know who is asking for prototype and why?
I had been asked for prototype from an invention company for 3 times. They looked at my invention ideas and told me they would need a prototype. I said no problem and turn around built one myself for them, for all 3 different ideas. And they took a look and said No on all 3 cases after they looked at my prototype, and their comments were like, this market doesn’t need another one of these. Come on, they could have told me so after the looked at my drawing and before I built my prototype. Later on I found out they also have prototyping service. They just want to sell you their service, and not really interesting at your idea. So be very careful, don’t believe everything people tell you. Be aware of praises that came too easy, find a reputable reviewer… There are a lot of sharks out there, they all want your money but doesn’t really want to help you.
The photo is a working cupholder prototype, despite the look, it really works great.
Forums » Prototyping » Topic
| Have you been asked for prototype? | |
|---|---|
  |
|
|
|
|
126,250
Insider Points
|
Holly, I don’t have anything in the Westpoint search. I do still have a G6 in the Insider’s search. Roger, Good suggestion as usual. Even a crude prototype can help clarify an idea to yourself. |
 
∞
Insider Points
|
If you can make a crude prototype to prove proof of concept it is a good idea to do that unless it is one of those things that you can see that it would work based on prior knowledge. Sometimes making a crude prototype just for yourself can help you work some of the bugs out of the product and give you a beter feel for the right design. |
 |
Mark and Adam. Do you have a G7 in the Westpoint search? |
|
126,250
Insider Points
|
Adam, I have one just like that. I sewed it myself and it is only 1/3 scale. I’m making a full scale one, but I’ll need to hire someone to do the sewing. By the way, no one has asked for it yet. |
 |
Ron, your comment about making greatly inferior prototypes makes me feel a lot better about my prototype. Mine is textile based, and I had to teach myself to sew with a sewing machine to knock it out. It looks very much like it was made by a man who taught himself to sew. |
  |
Prototypes may or may not be important depending on the invention. You cannot make a generalization across the board. Airplanes are designed on screen and then built and hope they fly right. If you can make a cheap working prototype for good reason then do it…but don’t go and waste alot of money when the manufacturer can make one 10 times better. Explain you did not waste your time because you knew your chosen manufacturer could make one so much better. This statement should be accepted and respected. I believe in generally making greatly inferior prototypes…no use trying to be professional….the manufacturer is the professional in making stuff…not the inventor. This opinion can surely turn the complete opposite for some and a production model prototype will impress manufacturers and get the inventor more respect. I guess it comes down to if you have the extra money for prototyping…if not I supply a good excuse here. I had prototypes for the few inventions that I am working on but they are crude and maybe even laughable, but they are working prototypes…no production model prototypes. Ron Komorowski |
 |
I don’t know if it is possible to get a patent anymore on any type of holder. Not much is new, useful, and unobvious to an engineer in the realm of item holders. |
« Return to the forums index page